What people told us in 2021: The 10 Big Leeds Chat statements
The 10 Statements
Through our discussions with people across Leeds, ten key ideas emerged for how Leeds can be a healthier city for all.
01
If there was one topic that came up more than any other in our Big Leeds Chats, it was that children, young people and families would love to see more things they could get involved in with their fellow residents.
People credited families as playing such an important role in keeping each other going during the hardest days of the pandemic, but keeping everyone entertained and stimulated hasn’t always been easy.
People said they would like to see Leeds nurture families through everything from playgrounds to playgroups, youth clubs and skate parks – but these need to feel like safe and welcoming places, as the fear of antisocial behaviour can make provision seem inaccessible. Children’s and young people’s services are more than a niche concern to the people who joined the Big Leeds Chat – they are the hallmark of a city that cares for every family.
02
People of all ages told us how important it was they got the chance to connect with their friends, neighbours and fellow Leeds residents. Knowing they aren’t alone is an important way that people keep well – but they need activities to be affordable, easy to get to and, at least some of the time, in person rather than online.
The third sector plays a hugely valued role in organising ways for people to get together and be each other’s support, and residents said they would love to see it do more and receive the investment it deserves. Some of the time, people weren’t looking for organised activities but somewhere they could just be with others. Inviting local buildings and green spaces were another important factor identified in a good community scene. A lot of people who spoke to us told us they were volunteers, and it was clear from the amazing response to calls for volunteers during the early days of the pandemic that Leeds residents are more than willing to give their time – they just need the structures to be able to do so.
03
Residents of all ages have been getting online more during the pandemic – but, across Leeds, many people told us this has left them with a real hunger to connect with others in person. While we did hear from people who were digitally excluded, we also heard from those who can get online and on the phone regularly but don’t necessarily think remote services would always work for them. Although, for some, phone and digital contact can be handy, people told us they had also found it doesn’t always provide for the personal connection they value when they are looking for support with their health.
Because the move to remote delivery has coincided with a time where people say they’ve found it harder to access services, there is a real danger that people see remote health and care services as “second-class” and a way of offering less, not more, care.
04
Over the pandemic, people across Leeds told us they felt it had got harder and harder to book GP appointments. The issue seemed to be particularly prevalent in certain areas. It’s clear from people’s comments just how much they value their GP, so when it feels like a trial to get through the front door, they can be left feeling disconnected from a valued source of help and, at worst, left to cope alone by public services.
Conversely, when people did feel supported by services, this could make a real difference to their wellbeing.
05
During our Big Leeds Chats, people told us about much-loved local venues, organisations, parks and so on, and they were keen to talk about their area or community. However, we also heard about what can go wrong if services are a long way away from people, including for those living in outlying areas which were only incorporated into Leeds a few decades ago.
People also told us how local areas could quickly lose their appeal when the shops, pubs and so on which give locals a reason to be there shut down. It’s worth bearing in mind that, although these 10 statements are relevant to all our Chats, each of the latter had its own unique topics. In Bramley, for instance, people regularly flagged up problems with unsuitable housing, while people in Wetherby talked about concerns services couldn’t cope with a fast-growing population. When we’re developing services and initiatives, it seems that a locally focussed approach really does matter to people.
06
People in many areas and communities in Leeds talked about how they worried they might become a victim of crime or antisocial behaviour when they go out into their local area, and this makes it all the more daunting for them to use the public spaces and facilities that support their health and wellbeing. People of all ages – but perhaps most notably children and young people – said they were less likely to get out into our parks and leisure facilities if they were worried about what might happen. On the other hand, some also suggested that issues are caused in part by young people not having enough things to keep them busy and feeling positive. One solution people often suggest is more, and more visible, police.
07
Our chats often touched upon how lockdowns and the loneliness they wrought had affected people’s mental wellbeing and confidence, and some people said it’s not
going to be easy for everyone to “go back to normal”. All kinds of groups – whether men, women, children or young people – have felt the effects, and sometimes people suggested that targeted work should be in place to support residents to reach out for help. We heard how some people had struggled to get the treatment they wanted for their mental health from services, but we also heard a lot of interest in “non-traditional” ways of keeping well, such as friendly, welcoming community activities organised by the third sector and peers. Sometimes, people suggested these activities be mental health-focussed but, often, people said just having a way to be social was key.
08
While many people in Leeds said they would love to exercise more at leisure centres and facilities, sometimes this is out of reach because it’s too expensive, especially when we factor in other costs like getting a bus. Free activities such as walking have been a big part of how people have kept well during the pandemic. It’s also worth noting that people were much more likely to tell us they would like to exercise than change their diet, and smoking and drinking rarely came up in our conversations.
09
People in Leeds love our many parks and see them as a crucial resource for keeping us all well (although residents in our more deprived areas sometimes said they were less likely to have them on their doorstep). Not only are parks a beautiful community venue, people noted how they offer the chance to connect with nature, walk, run and play. Residents told us how it saddens them when green spaces aren’t cared for or feel unsafe, with littering, graffiti and anti-social behaviour sometimes driving away people who would otherwise access them.
10
When bus services are unreliable or infrequent, or they require people to change multiple times, it’s more than an annoyance – it shrinks Leeds residents’ worlds, especially if they are older, less mobile or poor. It also makes accessing health and care services all the more difficult.
